2026 Candidate Spotlight: Bel Air Man Pushes For Stronger Academic Focus

BEL AIR, MD — Joe Fleckenstein of Bel Air has never held a political office before, but he has big ideas if elected to the Harford County Board of Education District C serving Bel Air and Forest Hill.

Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office. Below you will find Fleckenstein's responses, verbatim:

Name: Joe Fleckenstein

Age on Election Day: 54 years old.

Hometown: Bel Air

Political Affiliation: Republican

Email: joe.fleckenstein@gmail.com

Campaign Website: https://www.joe4boe2026.com

Office I am Seeking: Board of Education District C (Bel Air & Forest Hill)

Previous Political Experience: I have never held a public office.

Most Important Issues for Voters in this Race: While there are some very good students and public schools in Harford County, recent Maryland State Exams across the board in Mathematics, Science, and English/Language Arts shows that 40-50% of our students are not receiving passing marks on the Math & Science State Exams. About 30-35% of our students are not passing the English/Language Arts State Exams. This is unacceptable. Our students need to be prepared for the real world upon high school graduation, and the solution is returning to a traditional emphasis in academics, without the distractions of political or social activism in the classroom. The methods of instruction that were used decades ago were time-tested and work much better than more current methods of teaching. Teaching that utilizes phonics, cursive-writing, rigorous instruction in basic math, and complete American history including our Founding Fathers, will develop stronger students much more capable of success upon graduation.

How Do I Differ From Other Candidates: My opponent will likely stick to newer methods of instruction, which sound great but do little to produce improvement in the student. I am against political and social activism in the classroom, and my opponent likely favors this approach. Students may express their views outside of school, off the school campus, but school time is precious and should be reserved for academics. Based on the results of our State Exams over the past several years, students need as much time as possible to be focused on academics. Concerning basic school safety, I do not want biological boys inside of girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, or participating on their sports teams. Other candidates may feel differently about this.

How Would My Work Experience Benefit Me for This Position: I work on Aberdeen Proving Ground as a Defense Contractor, which I have done for more than 13 years. I am in the field of security, but my job is very customer-service oriented. This position is a great training ground for the office that I am seeking, as I interact with dozens of civilians, contractors, maintenance workers, and VIP civilians and military officers, some high level, on a daily basis. Learning to meet the needs of a diverse clientele has prepared me for the challenge of interacting with a unique Board of Education, Superintendent, faculty, and students. As a practical example, my colleague and I often juggle multiple meetings while assisting with inventory control and other security procedures. The Board of Education requires candidates who can properly manage their time while simultaneously responding to school and constituent needs. I possess the temperament and judgment required for this office.

My Opinion of the Work Done by Current Office Holder: The current office holder is term limited. This person has a background in education and cares about teachers and students but often votes incorrectly. My guess is that my opponent would mirror the person currently in this position. I will implement the policies and philosophies that I espoused above, while creating strong working relations with the superintendent and other board members.

Other Interesting Information: I grew up in Bel Air and have spent more than 80% of my life in Harford County. Our public schools are our future. Harford students have a rich tradition of success, and I want to ensure that our 17- and 18-year-olds, upon graduation, are fully prepared for college, technical school, the work world, and/or the military. I attended Homestead/Wakefield Elementary, Bel Air Middle, and Bel Air High School, and my parents knew exactly what my sister and I learned every year. Transparency and parental rights are crucial. Classical methods of instruction, along with a focus on our taxpayer dollars going into the classroom, and not into our Central Office to create new, unneeded positions, will place our school system on a winning path.